Chairman of Etche Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Obinna Anyanwu, has stated that education remains the bed-rock of any nation.
Anyanwu stated this shortly after his brother delivered the 50th Inaugural Lecture of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) titled,: “Managing The Silent Killer In Nigerian Universities,” last Thursday, at the school’s main campus in Port Harcourt.
The chairman added that the incisive lecture presentation was a clear evidence that Etche people are brilliant as well as love education. ‘This is why Etche people today are proud of Prof Gift Uchenna Nwiyi. It is not easy to have a Professor in a university such as this and I am very proud of my brother. He has shown capacity. He has shown that his wealth of wisdom is impacted to the people, so I am very honoured. As you can see, I stayed from the beginning to the end; that shows our commitment to education; shows that education is the bedrock of any nation,” he said.
Anyanwu stated further that the topic, ‘Managing The Silent Killer In Nigerian Universities’ was necessary, describing it as apt and timely, stressing that many people were going through lots of stress without knowing.
He charged all participants especially other Professors to put all that they have been taught into practice, stressing that excessive and chronic stress kills faster than one would least expect.
Speaking while delivering the inaugural lecture, the inaugural lecturer, Prof Gift Uchenna Nwiyi stated that academic administrators are more prone to face pressure arising from job demands of dual functions, teaching as well as administration, making them to experience high level of stress.
Nwiyi recommended that Vice Chancellors in universities should not allow one lecturer to handle dual functions, adding that they should always go for regular exercise as well medical check-up for a healthy living.
He stressed that the role of academic administrators in Nigerian universities is enormous and needs very conscious and active minded individuals, who will perform these roles with minimal stress for effective service delivery.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Prof Onuchuku Okechuku, charged the participants to avoid too much stress, noting tha it is better to work and be able to enjoy what you laboured for than to work and die by not managing the silent killer called stress.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana